Separator



SEPARATOR w. H. WINEMAN Fl LED JUNE 2 Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WADE H. WINEMAN. OF CHICAGO. ILLI NOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERYCOMPANY. A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SEPARATOR.

Application filed June 2. 1920.

Y '0 all whom it may comm/"n:

Be it known that I. am; l'l. 'ixmixx. a citizen of the United States.residing at (hi -ago. in the county of (look and Stateof Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators. of which thefollowing is a .full. clear. and exact specification.

My invention relates to separators and more especially to centrifugalseparators.

It has for its object to provide an improved controlling means for aseparator and more especially for a centrifugal gas and liquid separatorwhereby the level of the liquid in the separator may be determined andgaseous discharge through the liquid outlet discovered should it occur.A more specific object of my invention is to provide an improvedcontroller especially adapted to use in connectiqn with centrifugalseparators or boosters of the type used in air lift systems or the likewhereby the level of the liquid in the booster casing may be readilydetermined and regulated as desired.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustrationtwo enibodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an air liftseparator equipped with oneform of my improvement. parts being broken away to facilitateillustration.

I find that the liquid entering a booster of this type is rotated aboutthe inner periphery of the casing in a whirlpool form forming a centralvortex extending from near the top of the casing to a point above thebottom thereof. In my improved construction I utilize this vortexcreated by the liquid and by determining the height of Serial No.386,024.

the bottom thereof from the bottom of the casing. determinetheeffectiveness of the booster at any given moment. since 1 find thatif the bottom of the vortex is too low or too high relative to theliquid discharge. the booster will not function at its maximumefficiency.

In the form of my improvement shown in Figure 1. I provide a tube 5slidable axially down through an elbow 6 on the discharge pipe I andadjustably positioned with respect to said elbow by a gland 7 receivablewith suitable packing 8 in the elbow. I also. as herein. preferablyprovide a valve 9 at the end of the tube 5- so that communicationbetweenthe interior of the casing and the atmosphere may be established whendesired. In order that the pressure acting upon the top of the fluid inthe casing may i be regulated when necessary. I also provide a mine cock1() in the discharge pipe 4 and in order that the pressure within thecasing may be determinedat a glance, 1 may. if desired. provide a gage11 connected to the top of the casing.

As a result of'this construction it will be observed that the height ofthe liquid in the casing may be determined at any time desired by simplyopening the valve 9. releasing the gland T, and adjusting the pipe 5vertically in the casing until amixture of air and liquid is dischargedfrom the upper end of the tube 5. \Vhen this occurs, if the tube is of alength equal to the distance between the gland 7 and the bottom of thecasing, it will be evident that the height of the valve 9 above thegland 7 will show the height of the bottom of the vortex from the bottomof the casing. \Vith the height of the bottom of the vortex thusdetermined, it will be evident that the pressure at the top of thecasing may be regulated as desired through the valve 10 to raise orlower the level of the liquid in the casing relative to the discharge 3,the tube and valve being adjusted until a mixture of air and liquidascapes from the tube when the latter is so located relative to thedischarge 3 as to indi cate a flow of air free liquid from the latter.It will be understood that the inlet 2 is con nected to the riser pipeof an air lift pump and that a mixture of air and Water enters thebooster 1 therethrough. It will also be understood that the discharge 3may be connected to a discharge line leading to an elevated tank or anyother point of use or storage and that water is discharged under thepressure of the air above it in the booster 1. As the mode of operationof boosters is well known, further explanation is believed unnecessary.

In Fig. .2, I have illustrated a modified form of indicating meansadapted when desired to replace the tube and to be used with the valve10 in the control of the mechanism. In this construction, a pet-cock 12is provided on the liquid discharge 3, preferably, for convenience, at apoint adjacent the booster casing. When this pet-cock is opened and airis discharged therethrough, it will be evident that the bottom of thevortex is too low. Conversely, when no air escapes through thispet-cock, it will be evident that the height of the bottom of the vortexis such as to give the desired liquid flow. Thus, when air escapesthrough the pet-cock, by adjusting the valve 10 in such a manner as todecrease the pressure in the top of the casing .until the cessation ofair discharge through the pet-cock. the desired liquid flow may beobtained.

lVhile I have in this application specifically described two forms whichmy invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that theseforms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in other forn'iswithout departingfrom its spiritor the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 'A separator for fluids of different specific gravities comprising acasing, inlet means to a mixture of the fluids, separate dischargestherefor after separation, and means for ascertaining the location ofthe; surface of separation between the separating fluids comprising ventmeans communicating with the interior of the separator and automaticallyoperative when opened to discharge the fluid with which its inner endcommunicates.

2. A centrifugal separator for fluids of different specific gravitiescomprising a casing, tangential inlet means for a mixture of the fluidsand separate discharges for the separated fluids. and means forascertaining the location of the surface of separation of the.separating fluids con'iprising ventmcans having an orifice adapted tocommunicate with the interior of the casing adjacent the surface ofseparation.

. A centrifugal separator for fluids of different specific gravitiescomprising a cas ing, tangential inlet means for a mixture of thefluids. separate discharges for the separated fluids, means foreffecting discharge of the fluids under pressure, and means forascertaining the location of the surface of separation between theseparated fluids com- 1,44o,sos

prising vent means having an orifice adapted to communicate with theinterior of the easing and adjustable to dispose said orifice atdill'erent levels therein.

4, A centrifugal separator for fluids of different specific gravitiescomprising a casing, tangential inlet means for a mixture of the fluidsand separate discharges for the same after separation. and means forascertaining when the top of the denser of the fluids is below apredetermined level comprising passage forming means communicating withthe interior of the casing and controlling means therefor operative whenopened to open a communication between the interior of the casing andthe atmosphere.

5. An air lift centrifugal booster for separating gaseous and liquidfluids con'iprising a casing having tangential inlet and discharge(lirecting means, and means for determining the position of the bottomof the vortex of the liquid fluid therein relative to said dischargeconnection, comprising a valve controlled passage forming meanscommunicating with the interior of the casing.

6. An air lift centrifugalbooster for separating gaseous and liquidfluids comprising a casing having inlet and discharge connections. meansfor determining the position of the bottom of the vortex of the liquidfluid therein relative to said discharge connection pomprising a valvecontrolled passage forming means communicating with the interior' of thecasing. and pressure control means adjustable to control the pressure i1said casing.

7. In a centrifugal. separator, a casing having tangential inlet anddischarge connections, and means whereby the conditions in the interiorof the casing may be ascertained comprising a tube disposed axially ofsaid casing and adjustable therein toward or from the bottom of saidcasing.

8. In a centrifugal separator, a casing having tangential inlet anddischarge connections; means whereby the conditions in the interior ofthe casing maybe ascertained comprising a tube disposed axially of saidcasing and adjustable therein, and a valve carried 011 the upper end ofsaid tube.

9. In a centrifugal separator, a casing having tangential inlet anddischarge connections, means whereby the conditions in the interior ofthe casing may be ascertained comprising a tube disposed axially of saidcasing and adjustable therein, and means for releasably holding saidtube in any position of adjustment.

10. In a centrifugal separator, a casing having tangential inlet anddischarge connections and an axial discharge connection, means wherebythe conditions in the interior ofthe casing may be ascertainedcomprising a tube adjustable through said last mentioned dischargeconnection, and means for varying the flow through said dischargeconnectmn.

ll. ln a centrifugal separator, a casing having tangential inlet anddischarge c0nncctions and an axial discharge connection, a.

tube adjustable through said last mentioned discharge connection, avalve controlling the flow through said tube, means for holding saidtube in different positions of adjustment, and a control valve in saidaxial discharge connection.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WADE H. VVINEMAN.

